Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island is a tropical continental island located about 29 kilometres southeast of Cairns in Queensland, within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Most of the island is protected as Fitzroy Island National Park, featuring rainforest, granite outcrops and fringing coral reefs. It is notable for Nudey Beach, snorkelling and diving opportunities, walking tracks and the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, and is accessed by ferry as a popular day-trip and resort destination.

Visitors can expect a forested island with fringing coral reefs, granite boulders and sandy beaches including Nudey Beach on the south-east coast. The interior is covered by national park rainforest with marked walking tracks to lookouts and the summit. Facilities are concentrated around Welcome Bay where the ferry jetty, resort, camping area and Turtle Rehabilitation Centre are located. Activities centre on beach swimming, snorkelling over reef, kayaking, glass-bottom boat tours and hiking.

Traditionally known as Koba or Gabar, the island is part of the sea country of the Gunggandji and Yidiny peoples. Recorded by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770 and named Fitzroy Island in 1819. Later used as a quarantine station for Chinese immigrants to the Palmer River goldfields in the late 19th century, an Aboriginal mission, and a World War II radar and coast-watch station. Most of the island was gazetted as national park in 1939.

The island holds cultural significance for the Gunggandji and Yidiny peoples as traditional sea country, with ongoing connection to land and sea. The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on the island is a notable community conservation facility focused on rehabilitation of sick and injured sea turtles.